"Our film The Voice of Hind Rajab was nominated for an Academy Award. I had the honor of playing one of the lead roles in a story the world needed to hear. But I will not be there. I am not allowed to enter the United States because of my Palestinian citizenship. It hurts. But here is the truth: You can block a passport. You cannot block a voice."
"I am Palestinian, and I stand with pride and dignity. My spirit will be with the Voice of Hind Rajab that night. Good luck to all of you. Our story is bigger than the barrier, and it will be heard."
Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees is unable to attend the 98th Oscars ceremony where his film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, is nominated for Best International Feature Film. The film, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, depicts the true story of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and her family who were killed by Israeli forces in 2024. Malhees cannot enter the United States due to his Palestinian citizenship, as President Trump instituted a travel ban in December restricting entry for people with Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. Despite the restriction, Malhees expressed pride in his Palestinian identity and stated that while passports can be blocked, voices cannot be silenced. Fellow actors and industry peers expressed solidarity with him.
Read at The Independent
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]